The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-05-18
[Nc,cs and Courier, Friday Is. 1887.

The Diocesan Convention met at half-past
10 o'clock yesterday, pursuant to adjourn
ment.
The galleries and most of the pews in the
body of the church were filled with ladies
who were interested listeners to the rather
warm discussion that occupied the entire
The "bone OF contention" was present in the
person Of the Rev. j. ii. NJ. Pollard, of ST.
Marks
Immediately upon the calling Of the roll tho
color question, which by this time had as
sumed somewhat canonical and constitu
tional aspect and which before adjournment
had developed into perpleXing parliamenta
ry puzzle, was resumed. Mr.. PollardS name
by the Bisop as being entitled to seat but not
Il vote In the Convention, Il twelve months
residence in his parish being the qualification
for vote. .,
A motion had been made to accept the roll
and Mr.. Haskell had moved TO amend it by
striking the name Of Mr.. Pollard from the
roll.
closed, which motion was adopted with bu
one dissenting voice, and q vote by orders was
taken-thc question being on Mr.. Haskell &
motion to strike from the BISHOPS Nc p roll OF e the
clergy the name of Rev. j. IL. NJ. Pollard. The
vote resulted rs follows:
Clcrgy-IcaS 3, nays 2S.
Laymen- Yeas 22, nays l2.
OF the clcrgymcn, the Rev. Messrs. Query
Hunckel and Trapier voted in the affirmative
The minority Of the lay delegates who voted
with the clergy was Increased this year tc
twelve against five last year, Those who sc
Messrs. II. ]. LaRoche, r. w. Shand, p. T. Vii
Iipigue d. B. Eglcston, Z. M. Rucker, +. \
Mitchell, Fl. w. Frost, T.. NJ. Scabrook, j. w
Meacher, J. Rutlcdgc Smith and j. X. London
The amendment, not having received q ma
iorty Of the votes of both orders, was declared
Col. McCrady, moved to reconsider the Ben.
ct motion, and this having been agreed to or
| IL, nhnt
clared in order, Mr.. Benet stating that in tho
interest Of the economy of time lie would ask
leave to withdraw the motion.
Col. McCrady then moved to table Mr.. Ben
cts motion.
The Bishop, with an almost audible sigh O
relief:) 81 am happy to say, brethren, tha
this motion, at least, is not debatable."
The motion to table Mr.. Benets motion 1 wa:
to divide the vote on the acceptance of the
Bishops roll of the clerical delegate.
Mr.. Haskell could not see what good was tt
be effected by this movement. He had been
with the laymen In this question, but he re
cognizcd defeat when he met ii. If the Con
vention refused to accept the bishops roll !
could not affect the organization, The Con
vention had been already organized when hi!
amendment was defeated. While he was op
posed to one name on the list, he was unwill
ing to make that the pretcXt for obstructnt
Or delaying the business OF the convention
The question had been fairly put and lost
The clergyman referred to (Mr. Pollard) had
clear, preSumptivc right to a seat here, and i!
entitled TO it until lie has been ousted by {
majority OF the Convention, He could not bt
ejccted by Il negative vote. He, for one, hat
| had enough of this and he hoped the matter
| would be set at rest. There was but one way
in which the views of the laity, as expressed
| by their action here, could be carried out
| they must amend the law, and If the con
sciences OF the clergy would not allow Their
to meet the views Of the laymen, the lattei
must simply go home and elect other clergy
| ,,l,,, ypn,,
one, however. was not prepared to take thai
step. There had been Il fair test Of strength
The clergy had said that their conscience:
| would not allow them to go with the laymcn
and he, for one, was prepared therefore to vote
| for the whole report. from top to bottom.
Mr.. .Iervcy explained that his side wanted
completed. ii was not denied that the cal
| for Il vote by orders on the second part OF tho
Bishops roll was because the "bone of con
tention," which had destroyed the unanimiTy
vote was taken, the result would be the
same. "We will not" he continued, desert
our position. We feel our responsibility, but
if we are driven to vote against the whole
body of the clergy, we will do it and let the re
sponsihilty rest where 1t belongs. Very grave
doubts have been expressed as to the legality
Of the proceedings unless the Convention Is
Col. McCrady: 1--WE only ask that this body
shall be organized at once before going into
that other question.
| Tho blShop: This Douy mas Deen declared
duly organiZed.'
| Col. McCrady: "But there is difference o.
| opinion on that subject. What we want Is
to seat those about whose right to be seated
! there is no difference OF opinion. After hav
ing done this we will Introduce resolutions re-
fcrring this matter to q commission"
| Dr. Porter: GLOW will that settle 1t? Al
the end Of the year we will find ourselves eN
actly in the same position, except that MI
Pollard, if he lives, will be on the list of tho
clergy who are entitled to vote"
| At this point the discussion branchcd of
| OH the subject OF the organization, the Rev
Mr.. Bellingcr delivering Il lengthy and
earnest speech, showing that the Convention
was organized us soon as a quorum was pres
cnt.
Mr.. T. NJ. Hancllcl followed on the other
side, and q half dozen delegates were OH their
feet 10 speak when Mr.. Mr.. Bcnct obtained
the floor. ''There is no use,' he said, ito stay
here clIopping logic and constructing syllo.
gismS. There is absolutely nothing new To
be said OH this question, If we stay here a
week, or am0nth, or year. If this thing Is
allowed to 90 on it will cease to become q
| burning qucStion-it will become Il restoring
sore in the side Of q dying diocese. 1t can't
be settled this way, and / am implore the
members OF this Convention 10 allow a di.
vision of the question:, so as to allow the ref
| erence OF the matter to a commission which
will harmonizc matters The Convention
this year by some strange accident had been
called together on Thursday, instead of We'd
ncSday, as on former OCCASIONS and the time
vas too limited to allow Of q settlement nj
this meeting"
Rev. Mr.. Tillnghast: "If no more light can
be thrown upon the subject what Is to be ac'